Bristol aims for home run in Indianapolis

A delegation of city and American Legion officials are heading to Indianapolis in May to make a pitch for the organization to hold its annual baseball World Series at Muzzy Field.
“Needless to say, it would be great for the community,” said Mayor Art Ward, who’s one of the five people taking the trip.
If the delegation can pull it off, the Legion’s World Series would likely be “the largest sporting event ever to take place in the city,” said Paul LaFleur, general manager the American Legion Post 2 baseball team.
Ward said there are nine municipalities competing for the right to host the 2010 World Series, which might be the last one that Bristol could hope to snag. After that year, he said, the American Legion plans to hold the baseball tournament at the same time – and same city – as its national convention.
“It’s a once in a lifetime thing,” city Park Director Ed Swicklas, who is also heading to Indianapolis.
The American Legion is paying the tab for the five men – Ward, Swicklas, LaFleur and American Legion representatives Fran Mullins and Jay Meisinger – to address the selection committee on May 4.
Ward said that Bristol has several compelling arguments for the panel to agree to have the American Legion World Series at Muzzy Field, including the historical ballpark, the long tradition of American Legion baseball in town and the presence of sports giant ESPN in Bristol.
LaFleur said that Bristol has a proven track record of organizational support, “one of the best ballparks” anywhere and demonstrated community backing. It also has ESPN behind it.
The sports giant has given the effort its solid support, LaFleur said. “It’s not a hope. It’s not a promise. It’s documented.”
Ward, a Vietnam veteran who has long been active in the Legion, said he and Swicklas are going because the local chapter “believes it’s crucial for their presentation for the selection committee to know the city’s commitment.”
Bristol is already slated to hold this year’s five-day Northeast regional tournament for American Legion Baseball beginning August 14.
Organizers estimate that the regional tournament will bring 10,000 fans to Bristol and sink about $250,000 in extra revenue into Bristol’s retail economy.
But LaFleur said the World Series is “tenfold” bigger than the regional tournament.
He said he’s been to 14 of the Legion’s World Series over the years and has seen firsthand how popular and professionally run they are.
“This is the likes of which Bristol has never seen,” LaFleur said.
Ward said that in addition to the extra spending, holding the national World Series would be a phenomenal asset” to the community.
He said it help improve the image of Bristol while showcasing Rockwell Park and Muzzy Field – as well as honoring “the members of the baseball committee throughout the years that made the [Bristol] Legion program such that it would be considered.”
In its document for cities interested in hosting the tournament, the American Legion says it is looking for “experienced tournament committees with strong community support, as well as excellent ballparks.”The American Legion World Series brings eight teams together from around the country to compete for the national title.American Legion Baseball has been around since 1925 and claims that millions of young men , ages 15 to 19, have played on its teams over the years.The last time the tournament was held in New England was in 1999, when Middletown hosted the World Series.According to the American Legion Baseball website, Bristol’s American Legion teams have won two regional championships, in 1984 and 1997, and 13 Connecticut championships, most recently in 2006.
Muzzy Field was built in 1912, making it one of the nation’s oldest ballparks. American Legion teams from Bristol have apparently played there for the past 80 years.
Bristol “is an excellent baseball community,” LaFleur said, and its team and organization are legendary in Connecticut Legion history.
Its proponents, including LaFleur and Mullins, are well-known in Legion baseball circles after decades of activity. If the World Series comes to Bristol in 2010, it would mark a highlight for Mullins, who would be putting in his 60th year with American Legion Baseball.
Those personal ties may help, officials said, and they at least got Bristol an inside tip: try to get ESPN on board. Major corporate backing is helpful, the national director told Bristol leaders during a trip to town this winter.
That done, LaFleur said, “We feel absolutely and totally qualified.”

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Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com